UPPER PENINSULA — A collaborative team of wildlife experts successfully captured and collared 41 moose in the western Upper Peninsula between Feb. 14 and Feb. 17, 2025.
The effort is part of a multiyear study investigating moose survival and the factors limiting population growth in the region.
The research project is a joint effort involving the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Northern Michigan University and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Data from the 2025 DNR aerial survey shows the core moose population in Baraga, Iron and Marquette counties has remained stagnant at approximately 300 animals. Researchers are using GPS collars and biological samples to determine if disease, predation, habitat changes or warming temperatures are contributing to the lack of population growth.
The capture process involved crews using a helicopter from Texas-based Heliwild to locate and tranquilize the moose. Once the animals were sedated, ground teams fitted them with radio collars and collected biological samples, including blood, hair and fecal matter. Kristie Sitar, a wildlife biologist with the DNR, supervised one of the aerial teams. “Great job everyone,” Sitar said after a successful capture. The entire procedure for each animal took less than 45 minutes to minimize stress.
During the first day of the operation on Feb. 14, 2025, two moose died during the recovery process. Dr. Scott Larsen, a veterinarian for the DNR’s Wildlife Division, performed field necropsies on both animals. While a young bull showed no signs of underlying disease, a mature cow was found to have significant disease in her lungs and liver. The capture team reviewed its protocols and took measures to further shorten the time each moose spent under anesthesia.
Tyler Petroelje, northern Michigan wildlife research specialist for the DNR, emphasized the balance between scientific needs and animal safety. “The work we do involves risks associated with wildlife capture and we take great precautions to ensure those risks are minimized,” Petroelje said. “When we consider collaring any wildlife, we do so because the value of information gained is greater than those associated risks.”
The project has already generated significant data. In the three weeks following the February 2025 captures, the new collars provided 22,000 GPS locations. Petroelje noted that the data is critical for the long-term health of the herd. “These moose and the biological samples and collar data they provide, will be invaluable in helping us better understand survival and factors that are limiting population growth in the core moose herd,” Petroelje said.
Project funding comes primarily from federal grants and tribal partnerships, with less than 1% coming from state hunting and fishing license fees. The KBIC recently secured a $684,112 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to support staff and research through 2028. Erin Johnston, wildlife and habitat manager for the KBIC, helped secure the grant and participated in the aerial captures. Johnston noted the teams worked together effectively despite weather delays. “Similar to last year, staff from DNR, KBIC and NMU seamlessly integrated into aerial and ground teams for another successful moose capture-and-collar event,” Johnston said.
Kyle Seppanen, wildlife coordinator for the KBIC, served on a snowmobile-based ground team during the captures. He said researchers are eager to analyze the movements of the 56 moose now wearing collars. “It will be exciting to see what additional information we can gather now that we have 56 collared moose on the landscape,” Seppanen said. “Where are the moose going? What habitats are they using and when?”
The initiative also provides field experience for students at Northern Michigan University. Diana Lafferty, an associate professor of wildlife ecology at NMU, served on the capture team and highlighted the educational value of the work. “This large-scale moose research and conservation initiative is providing exceptional hands-on learning opportunities for NMU students,” Lafferty said.
Operations were coordinated from a base at Van Riper State Park near Champion. Erin Largent, a DNR wildlife research technician and NMU master’s student, managed logistics for the effort. Largent’s responsibilities included securing permissions from private landowners, programming the GPS collars and organizing the helicopter and ground crews.
Researchers will use drone surveys this spring to confirm births and monitor the survival of moose calves throughout the year. Seppanen, who serves as one of two drone operators on the project, said he is looking forward to “confirming births this spring and tracking calf survival throughout the remainder of the year.”